Handgrip operated switch



April 1952 w. M. ROYER HANDGRIP OPERATED SWITCH Filed April 2, 1949 I INVENTOR. mllzczm M BY Patented Apr. 22, 1952 HANDGRIP OPERATED SWITCH William Myrl Royer, Decatur, 111., assignor to A. E. Staley Manufacturing Company, Decatur, lit, a corporation of Delaware Application April 2, 1949, Serial No. 85,151

The present invention relates to improvements application to a particular type of cable drawn power shovel, although it will be readily recognized that the structure is also adapted for use with other related types of apparatus.

As described in considerable detail in my copending application Serial No. 757,222, filed June 26, 1947, the operation of existing cable drawn power shovels, for example, in the handling or unloading of grains and other loose bulk materials from box cars, in warehouses, etc., involves certain risks of danger to the shovel operator. The structure illustrated and described in the above entitled application was devised to eliminate such hazards, as well as to improve and expand the utility of the shovel in various other respects. The invention herein dealt with pertains to further improvements in the shovel per se, particularly in a handle element therefor which is fabricated of drawn, tubular metal stock and which features a built-in switch mechanism.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved, shaped tubular handle for power shovels or like electrically controlled equipment which has a manually actuable switch device incorporated therein for convenient and safe manipulation by an operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tubular handle of the sort referred to above, in combination with an electrical switch associated with said handle in an improved and simplified manner, whereby to substantially decrease the cost of production and assembly of the component handle and switch parts, and whereby to be characterized by an improved compactness and appearance when assembled.

Yet another object is to provide a switch type handle which is free from projecting parts apt to become snagged in the operators glove or garments, and in which the built-in construction of the switch renders it proof against damage or displacement of its parts under impact.

Generally, it is an object of the invention to provide a handle-switch combination in which the switch per se is housed in its entirety within the confines of a tubular handle member in a manner to be effectively protected against dainage, and to provide a more compact, safer, cheaper and better appearing unit as a whole, all without detracting in the slightest from the desired ease of manipulation of the switch and the implement controlled thereby, or affecting the reliability of the switch in operation.

The foregoing statements are indicative ina 2 Cla-ims. (or. 200-157) general way of the nature of the invention, but other and more specific objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction and operation of the device.

A single embodiment of the invention is presented herein for purpose of illustration, but it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of incorporation in other modified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, illustrating the improved switch handle of the present invention in its operative relation to a power shovel or like equipment;

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged view in transverse cross section along a line generally corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1, further illustrating details of structure and relationship of the component parts of the handle and its associated switch;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an actuating or finger piece element of the switch which is embodied in the improved construction;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary bottom view of the handle-switch assembly, viewed approximately from line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation of a two-sided, generally U-shaped, plate-like confining piece or housing within which the switch of the present handle structure is disposed for mounting to the handle of the unit.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral in may be considered to represent an upright or post of a plow type power shovel of the type adapted for use in the handling, loading or unloading of loose bulk materials in railway cars, warehouses, etc., in general similar to the shovel which is the subject of the above entitled application. Shovels of this type, actuated by a winchdriven cable attached thereto, are well known in the art. While the illustrated embodiment of the present invention deals with improvements in the operator-gripped handle of such a shovel, in which handle an actuating switch controlling the cable is mounted, it will be readily appreciated that the invention is also applicable to a switch handle for other types of equipment in which a compact, inexpensive and readily assembled arrangement isdesired, and in which the switch parts will be safeguarded against the frequent shocks to which they are subjected in normal daily operation.

The handle itself is generally designated by the reference numeral l I. It is fabricated from a length of drawn steel tubing or conduit stock having a thin wall section, being shaped in an in verted U-shaped general outline. The lower leg portions [2 of said handle are flattened out of the normal circular cross section of the stock, as indicated at l3, and are disposed in opposed, rabbeted recesses I4 formed at the upper extremity of the upright I of the piece of equipment in question. Suitable securing means such as the spaced rivets I5 serve to rigidly connect these fiattened portions to said upright.

Upwardly of the lower handle portions. the member I l is shaped to provide a rounded gripping portion is, preferably on an internal radius of about two inches at the top of said member. The outer diameter of the tubular material is in the neighborhood of three-quarters inch to one inch, in order to afford a comfortable grip for the operator, although obviously these dimensions may be altered quite widely.

At a forward portion of the curved grip IS the latter is milled or otherwise relieved on its inward, rearwardly disposed surface to provide a transversely extending recess ll of dovetailed shape. This recess terminates at opposite ends in the divergent edges l8 at the sides of the tubular material, which edges are connected by arcuate edges l 9, generally concentric with the curvature of the tubular grip it.

The switch sub-assembly structure illustrated in Figs. 2 through 5 comprises a conventional type of plastic-cased micro-switch which is readily available on the market, with which is associated a suitable spring metal finger piece 2| (see Fig. 3). Switch 29 is of the normally open type. It includes the usual terminals 20 and a spring urged actuator button 22 of insulating material which is normally engaged by the longitudinally extending spring actuator finger 23 of said finger piece 2 l. The latter is stamped from flexible sheet metal stock and shaped to provide a generally rectangular side plate 24 adapted. to be fixedly disposed in vertical, side-by-side relation to the switch 2%. Finger piece 23 is oflset at a right angle to the plate to extend beneath switch button 22 when so assembled, and the plate is provided with screw reeciving apertures 25. The plastic casing of switch 2%) is correspondingly apertured transversely to enable the switch and finger piece 2i to be unitarily clamped by screws in operative relation to one another.

Further elements of the switch sub-assembly comprise a fiber insulating element 26 of inverted U-shaped cross section, within which the switch and finger piece are disposed as illustrated in Fig. 2, and a U-shaped external protective housing member 21. Housing member 2'! is outlined in conformity with the dovetail recess H in handle grip l6, so as to be slidably insertable sidewise in the latter. It includes a pair of parallel side plates 28 and a pair of bridge elements 29 integral with and extending between said plates 28, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. Said side plates present convergent, dovetail end edges 30 connected by a curved upper edge 3! which is in conformity with the curvature of the handle recess [9. The edges 31 are charnfered at 32.

This structure affords a two-walled protective housing within which the switch 29, finger piece 2i and insulator are assembled and clamped as a unit. In the illustrated form the clamping is accomplished by transversely extending screws 33 extending through apertures 25 of the finger piece and corresponding apertures in the switch casing, insulator and housing. Tapped internal holes '34 in one of the plates 23 threadedly receive said screws. It will be understood that this switch sub-assembly is put together prior to the assembly thereof with the handle II. The power cable, shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, is introduced through a hole 35 in the handle and threaded upwardly in its interior, then its leads are attached to the terminals 20' of switch 20.

To complete the structure, the wired switch sub-assembly is slipped into place in the arcuate handle recess li, bringing the side plates 28 into tangentially aligned relation to the opposed outer sides of the handle member ll at the circumferential edges IQ of the recess in the latter. The chamfering of the arcuate surface SI of the plates 28 leaves a curved fillet space adjoining and between the meeting surfaces of the handle and switch sub-assembly, which space is filled in by welding, indicated at 36, to complete the assembly. The outer surface of the assembled and welded parts is then ground smooth. The above switch structure is well housed within and shielded by the switch sub-assembly housing 21 and the latter is snugly nested in the dovetail recess of the handle member 15, in flush protected relation to its lateral surfaces. Projecting parts are eliminated and the switch finger piece 23 of the handle may be manipulated by the operator without hand irritation or snagging with the operators gloves or other garments. Of great importance, the fabrication and assembly of the units involve very inexpensive operations. Needless to say, the foregoing arrange ment is a very rugged one. capable of a maXimum life of operation which is limited only by the life of the switch thereof.

By reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be noted that the side plates 28 of the housing member 21 of the switch sub-assembly extend across the forward portion of the arc of curvature of the grip [6 as a chord of said arc. This provides obtusely angled corners at either end of the switch sub-assembly which serve as stops against which the operators hand may engage in the normal manipulation of the shovel, when the switch is not being operated. Accordingly, the natural tendency of the hand to slip in one direction or another over onto the switch, with possible inadvertent operation of the latter, is safeguarded against.

I claim:

l. A handle construction comprising a tubular element of substantial outer diameter, including attaching portion and a curved grip portion provided with an undercut, dovetail recess opening through an internal surface thereof; a switch assembly nested in said recess and integrally connected to said grip portion about the margin thereof; said assembly comprising a hollow protective housing shaped in general conformity with said recess and extending as a chord across the arc of curvature of said grip portion, the integral connection of said assembly and grip portion being made between the respective adjacent margins of said housing and recess; and a switch unit fixedly mounted in said housing having an exposed finger piece, adjacent respective surfaces of said housing, the grip portion and finger piece being disposed in substantially flush relationship, whereby an operator's hand, in passing over the grip portion, encounters only the resistance provided by the angles between the curved gripping portion and the switch housing.

2. A handle construction comprising a tubular element of substantial outer diameter, including an attaching portion and a portion curved in a substantial arc and provided with an undercut, dove-tail recess opening through an internal surface thereof; a switch assembly nested in said recess and welded to said grip portion about the margin thereof; said assembly comprising a hollow protective housing shaped in general conformity with said recess and extending as a chord across the arc of curvature of said grip portion and slidably inserted in the latter from a side of said grip portion, the welded connection of said assembly and grip portion being made between the respective adjacent margins of said housing and recess; and a switch unit fixedly mounted in said housing adapted to be actuated by a longitudinally extending spring actuator finger, adjacent respective surfaces of said housing, the grip portion and finger being disposed in 6 substantially flush relationship, whereby an operators hand, in passing over the grip portion, encounters only the resistance provided by the angles between the curved gripping portion and the switch housing.

WILLIAM MYRL ROYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 14,166 Scheibert July 18, 1916 1,683,988 Readin Sept. 11, 1928 1,691,291 Kahaleohu Nov. 13, 1928 2,097,294 Lang Oct. 26, 1937 2,098,077 White Nov. 2, 1937 2,159,590 Huck May 23, 1939 2,272,164 Neil et a1. Feb. 3, 1942 

